Project details

RTE is the French high and extra-high voltage electricity TSO (transmission system operator). As such, RTE is in charge of balancing the production and consumption of electricity at all times, as well as develop, execute and operate the onshore and offshore national grid.

Offshore grid connection projects to connect wind farms to the network form part of a very ambitious programme in France to achieve net zero by 2050 by bringing 40 GW of offshore wind generation into service. For all these projects, RTE is responsible for the offshore windfarm grid connection, from the offshore substation to the onshore substation and inland national grid. The connections are HVDC or HVAC, depending on the project.

The Centre National Expertise Réseau (CNER) is the engineering expertise centre for the national electrical network. CNER defines the technical reference frameworks and technical policies for the engineering aspects of these major projects (subsea cables, offshore electrical substations, HVDC land cable systems, HVDC converter stations). It is involved in qualifying the equipment and conducting the detailed technical studies for projects teams.

Within the CNER organisation, several departments are involved in offshore grid connection and interconnector projects:

  • Substation department (Département Postes)

                    o Offshore substations Team (Poséidon)

                    o Onshore substations Team (Pegase)

                    o Transformers Team (TCC – Transformateurs – Condensateurs et Composants)

                    o Substations Equipment & GIS (APS – Appareillage de Postes et PSEM)

                    o HVDC system Team (AEP – Actifs et Electronique de Puissance)

  • Control & Protection Department (Département Contrôle Commande Local)
  • Cables Department (Département Liaisons)

The tasks and prerogatives of the CNER teams are mainly to:

  • Guarantee management of assets and methods for RTE’s offshore substations, cable links and converter stations (requirements, reference frameworks, lessons-learnt and crossdepartmental events, etc.)
  • Provide technical expertise support to Project and Maintenance teams during the EPCIC and O&M tenders (both during the preparation and execution of the tenders)
  • Provide technical expertise support during the execution of EPCIC Projects
  • Execute the Transmission Asset Management studies and support the maintenance teams during the execution of the O&M contracts

In this context, the CNER teams are mainly involved into the following:

Prior to the consultation phases:

  • Responsible for the technical and functional specifications of RTE’s transmission assets (offshore substations, export cable, converter stations, including infrastructure control and protection systems): drafting, improving and updating the technical specifications for the client requirements (ERS) across-the-board within the CNER’s technical teams and in consultation with other RTE entities : IT systems (DSIT), Operations Department (DEXPL) and Maintenance Department (DMRP).
  • Contributors in the preparation of technical tender deliverables (excluding ERS specifications) which come under the responsibility of other services: DIIREM, DMRP, Procurement Department (DA), etc.
  • To support the DIIREM teams for the provision of technical data and the technical follow-up and verification of surveys (support during the dialogue process and when preparing the authorisation files, technical review of FEED preliminary design studies, review of on-site survey data, etc.)

During the EPCIC and O&M consultation phases:

  • Responsible for the technical analysis and for rating the bids of EPCIC and O&M candidates, in relation to the requirements set out in the ERS
  • Contributors in analysing the bids on issues managed by other RTE entities (notably DIIREM, DMRP, DA)

During the EPCIC offshore substation and O&M contract performance phases:

  • Responsible for technical analysis of deliverables produced by contractors awarded responsibility for the EPCIC and O&M perimeters, in relation to the requirements set out in the ERS
  • Contributors to support the contracting authority on issues managed by other RTE entities (notably DIIREM, DMRP), during the EPCIC implementation and O&M phases

Role Definition

The Offshore Substation SCADA & Control System Engineer is responsible for the specification over the offshore substations Control Systems domains.

The expert also handles the specifications for secondary systems on the offshore platform, such as video surveillance, alarm systems, passenger announcement systems, maritime and aerial beacon systems, radio systems, and weather stations.

Within their areas of expertise, the Offshore Substation SCADA & Control System Engineer :

  • Writes and updates the technical repository for offshore stations.
  • Delivers specifications for all projects initiated by RTE
  • Participates in the technical evaluation of calls for tender issued by RTE.
  • Participates in monitoring contract execution and compliance with specifications.
  • Coordinates with other experts from CNER.
  • Facilitates coordination with experts from the CNER Control & Protection Department.
  • Coordinates with experts from RTE’s IT & Telecom Department

The Offshore Substation SCADA & Control System Engineer is also responsible for secondary systems on the offshore platform, including video surveillance, alarm systems, passenger announcement systems, maritime and aerial beacon systems, and radio systems.

The Offshore Substation SCADA & Control System Engineer is coordinated by the Poseidon SCADA et Control System Leader and reports to the Poseidon head of division.Deliverables :

  • Technical specifications (Employer Requirement Specifications)
  • Technical tender evaluations
  • Coordination with other departments (HV, LV, C&P DCCL, IT DSIT, DIIREM)
  • Update of technical general standards (référentiel technique)
  • Meeting coordination and reporting (MoM)

Qualification

  • 5Y+ Experience in Industrial Control Systems or Control & Protections Engineering;
  • 5Y+ Experience in Engineering, Construction, Installation, Commissioning, Operation and Maintenance of Offshore Substations (or offshore platforms as a less-noted alternative);
  • Proven track record with Offshore Platforms either on Client side, EPCIC contractors, HV OIM’s or Offshore O&M;
  • Experience within European TSO or Offshore Wind Farm Developer is a plus but not a must
  • Demonstrated ability to collaborate in a team;
  • French: required to communicate in written French (e-mails, deliverables). Speaking is a plus but not a must;
  • English: project deliverables / project language is English.

Conditions

Planning:

This is a full-time position, onboarded in the POSEIDON team. The number of projects is steadily growing and there can be opportunities for extension in time.

  • Start as soon as possible
  • Duration: 12 months (extendable) - Long term opportunity
  • Location: Paris Area
  • Country: France
  • Contract type: Permanent or Contractor
  • Seniority level: Senior Engineer
  • Field of activity: Offshore Renewable Energy